Howdy Folks! Yes, I put that SH*T on my plants (see further down) to keep the bugs away! Besides Franks, here’s a few ideas to tell those pesky insects to bug off:
Depending on the kind of vegetables you’ll be growing in your vegetable garden, the methods of getting rid of the pests will change. And since that could turn out to be a never ending topic, let’s tackle this a little differently. Given below are some general and natural insecticides for vegetable gardens that will work for any kind of vegetable garden. So take note and start moving.
Also, here is a good guide to herbs that you can grow that are also natural repellents: Your Garden: Growing Herbs That Repel Insects & Other Critters Naturally
Tomato Leaves: Take some tomato leaves and add cornstarch (1 tbs) and water (3-5 pints) and blend well in the juicer. Now strain the liquid and transfer the contents into a spray bottle. Spray around the plants for getting rid of ants in vegetable garden. Actually a whole other set of bugs as well.
Vegetable Oil Soap: Take any mild liquid soap and measure out about ½ cup of the same. Add vegetable oil (2 cups) in that and mix together in a blender. To a tablespoon of this mixture, add 1 quart of water. Use this formula to cover both sides of the leaves on our plant. Make sure that you do not use a stronger formula ‘coz it’ll be harmful for your plants. And even though this is a tedious process, it really works in answering how to get rid of bugs in houseplants as well as other insects that infest houseplants and vegetable gardens.
Garlic Spray: Take about 4 garlic cloves and chop them up. Now add them in a liter of water and let it sit through an entire night over. You can boil garlic cloves in a cup of paraffin wax as well. Now add some soap flakes to the same by grating about a level full of any mild soap bar in it. Mix the liquid well and transfer into a spray bottle. Spray over the leaves.
The other alternative to this is to add hot chillies or onions to the same. Garlic has been known to get rid of spider mites, rabbits, mosquitoes and several other garden pests. This has been seen to work wonders as a natural insecticide for basil and other plants.
I would suggest to watch the reaction of your plants after spraying with a garlic infused recipe. Some plants may not like it.
Mixed Recipe: Mix 3 tbs of onion and garlic juice, 1 tbs pf Tabasco sauce, 3 tbs skim milk, 2 tbs baby shampoo in 1 gallon of water. Mix all ingredients well and spray all over the plants. Repeat every 10 days.
Neem Oil: Neem leaves are extremely bitter to taste and are usually used as a natural insecticide. Oil made from these leaves is also makes for one of the very effective and natural insecticides for vegetable gardens. Just dab a cotton ball into the neem oil and spread over the plants. Neem oil as insecticide will not only repel the insects but also discourage them from breeding.
Cloves: Crush several cloves in a gallon of water, mix well, let sit overnight and then use this mixture to spray over the plants. The strong smell of the cloves drives the insects away.
Wormwood Spray: Take some wormwood leaves and dry them out till you have about 15 gm of these. Add these to a liter of water and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Now cool the liquid and spray on plants. This is a strong solution and should only be used for larger pests and insects.
Cayenne Pepper (Diluted Frank’s Red Hot Sauce) – I put that SH*T on everything, including my plants. Diluted with water of course. Or use powdered cayenne pepper mixed with a litre of water and 1 tsp. of baby shampoo. Spray onto plants.
Crushed Mint & Cucumber Peels: Problems with ants? No more. Use this in your garden and also, along any entry points ants may have into your home. Bitter cucumbers work best.
Essential Oils: Try essential oils such as lemon balm (citronella), pennyroyal, lavender, and rose geranium mixed with 1 tsp baby shampoo and 1 litre of water. Wash before and after spending time outdoors.
The advantage of using natural insecticides for vegetable gardens is that it rids the insects without harming the plants. And that is exactly what you need in the end. Now that you know what some of the ways of controlling insects in vegetable gardens are, use them and rid the area for a cleaner and better garden.
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